High Resolution MR Images from 3T Active-Shield Whole-Body MRI System.
- Author:
Bo Young CHOE
1
;
Sei Kwon KANG
;
Myoung Ja CHU
;
Hyun Man BAIK
;
Euy Neyng KIM
;
Bum Soo KIM
;
Jae Mun LEE
;
Sung Taek CHUNG
;
Chang Beom AHN
;
Chang Hyun OH
;
Jung Ho KIM
;
Sun Il KIM
;
Keun Nam LEE
;
Tae Suk SUH
;
Hyoung Koo LEE
;
Heung Kyu LEE
;
Kyung Sub SHINN
Author Information
1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea. bychoe@cmc.cuk.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Magnetic resonance imaging;
High field;
High resolution
- MeSH:
Brain;
Foot;
Humans;
Knee;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*;
Magnets;
Signal-To-Noise Ratio;
Wrist
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
2001;5(2):138-148
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Within a clinically acceptable time frame, we obtained the high resolution MR images of the human brain, knee, foot and wrist from 3T whole-body MRI system which was equipped with the world first 3T active shield magnet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spin echo (SE) and Fast Spin Echo (FSE) images were obtained from the human brain, knee, foot and wrist of normal subjects using a homemade birdcage and transverse electromagnetic (TEM) resonators operating in quadrature and tuned to 128 MHz. For acquisition of MR images of knee, foot and wrist, we employed a homemade saddle shaped RF coil. Typical common acquisition parameters were as follows: matrix= 512x512, field of view (FOV) = 20 cm, slice thickness = 3 mm, number of excitations (NEX) = 1. For T1-weighted MR images, we used TR= 500 ms, TE = 10 or 17.4 ms. For T2-weighted MR images, we used TR=4000 ms, TE = 108 ms. RESULTS: Signal to noise ratio (SNR) of 3T system was measured 2.7 times greater than that of prevalent 1.5T system. MR images obtained from 3T system revealed numerous small venous structures throughout the image plane and provided reasonable delineation between gray and white matter. CONCLUSION: The present results demonstrate that the MR images from 3T system could provide better diagnostic quality of resolution and sensitivity than those of 1.5T system. The elevated SNR observed in the 3T high field magnetic resonance imaging can be utilized to acquire images with a level of resolution approaching the microscopic structural level under in vivo conditions. These images represent a significant advance in our ability to examine small anatomical features with noninvasive imaging methods.
